Key points in the commissioning framework for health and well-being

'The proposals in the document could mean the NHS paying for air-conditioning in the homes of people with chronic lung disease, or GPs prescribing anger management classes for children with behavioural problems.'.

The Commissioning framework for health and well-being aims to shift the focus from treating sick people towards health prevention.

The consultation process is being led by the Care Services Improvement Partnership, and we hope that responses will bring local councils and the NHS closer together to deliver better care.

The proposals in the document could see services delivered in radical new ways. This could mean, for example, the NHS paying for air-conditioning in the homes of people with chronic lung disease, or GPs prescribing anger management classes for children with behavioural problems. .

The change marks a significant shift in the way services have traditionally been delivered, and is part of the government's policy to deliver care closer to people's homes and out of hospitals..

The consultation invites views on how to design local health and social care services to promote health and well-being, and how to ensure that services to prevent avoidable illness are prioritised alongside those aimed at treating illness.. .

Key issues in the consultation include:

giving individuals more choice and control over their own care..For example by increasing choice for patients to all services, not just elective care, and giving patients a louder voice in determining the type of care available;

the new duty for NHS and local government to provide a joint strategic needs assessment, which requires those who plan services to deliver care that reflects the needs of their local communities;

wider use of the flexibilities around practice based commissioning so that, for example, GPs can spend NHS money on non-NHS services which have a preventative benefit for the NHS;

redesigning local health services based on people's needs, and convenience. This could mean, for instance, locating health services for children in schools.

Providers and commissioners of services in health, social care and local government are invited to respond to the consultation via the dedicated website. All you need to do is register by supplying your name and email address.

There are also a number of regional consultation events taking place, details of which can be found on the website.

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